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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/feb/11/we-cant-be-stretched-thinner-junior-doctors-respond-to-jeremy-hunt
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| 'We can't be stretched thinner': junior doctors respond to Jeremy Hunt | 'We can't be stretched thinner': junior doctors respond to Jeremy Hunt |
| (14 days later) | |
| Today, I started looking into alternative careers. I’ll work to the bone for the patients, but not for your political agenda. | Today, I started looking into alternative careers. I’ll work to the bone for the patients, but not for your political agenda. |
| Christopher Shaw, 27, London | Christopher Shaw, 27, London |
| How can you, in good conscience, single-handedly destroy the morale of junior doctors around the country with the unilateral imposition of your unfair and unsafe contract and then suggest that setting up an inquiry into why morale is low is a good use of taxpayers’ money? | How can you, in good conscience, single-handedly destroy the morale of junior doctors around the country with the unilateral imposition of your unfair and unsafe contract and then suggest that setting up an inquiry into why morale is low is a good use of taxpayers’ money? |
| Despondent Doc, 32, London | Despondent Doc, 32, London |
| You fail to listen and engage with us. You insult our intelligence claiming our union has misled us. We are the few who care for the most vulnerable in our society. You will not break us. This is our NHS. This is only the beginning of our fight for the future of the NHS as we know it. | You fail to listen and engage with us. You insult our intelligence claiming our union has misled us. We are the few who care for the most vulnerable in our society. You will not break us. This is our NHS. This is only the beginning of our fight for the future of the NHS as we know it. |
| Dr T, 28, Manchester | Dr T, 28, Manchester |
| Related: Jeremy Hunt to impose contract on junior doctors | Related: Jeremy Hunt to impose contract on junior doctors |
| I’ve seen some terribly, dreadfully, heartbreakingly sad things as a doctor but today is one of the saddest of my career. | I’ve seen some terribly, dreadfully, heartbreakingly sad things as a doctor but today is one of the saddest of my career. |
| Laura Jarvie, 33, Wimbledon | Laura Jarvie, 33, Wimbledon |
| I am one of the thousands of juniors deciding to leave England to continue my medical career. I want to work in the NHS but I refuse to work in a system that will neglect my training and make it less safe for both patients and doctors. Well done Mr Hunt. | I am one of the thousands of juniors deciding to leave England to continue my medical career. I want to work in the NHS but I refuse to work in a system that will neglect my training and make it less safe for both patients and doctors. Well done Mr Hunt. |
| Jack Stewart, 27, London | Jack Stewart, 27, London |
| I have no words to describe the utter despair felt by my friends and colleagues. Continuity of care will be a buzzword of the past with the new rotas. The weekends have less staff currently – instead of increasing funding for staffing they are just going to spread us over seven instead of five days. And this somehow is meant to be safer? | I have no words to describe the utter despair felt by my friends and colleagues. Continuity of care will be a buzzword of the past with the new rotas. The weekends have less staff currently – instead of increasing funding for staffing they are just going to spread us over seven instead of five days. And this somehow is meant to be safer? |
| Cate, 27, UK | Cate, 27, UK |
| I need the health secretary to stop LYING and start listening. We are already mentally and physically exhausted and can’t be stretched thinner, financially or professionally. He has been warned of the effects of imposition repeatedly and can’t claim ignorance when the NHS collapses in August. | I need the health secretary to stop LYING and start listening. We are already mentally and physically exhausted and can’t be stretched thinner, financially or professionally. He has been warned of the effects of imposition repeatedly and can’t claim ignorance when the NHS collapses in August. |
| anonymous, 37, Derbyshire | anonymous, 37, Derbyshire |
| I’m one of many British junior doctors working in Australia at the moment and this decision from the government today has put to bed any thoughts or a return home to work anytime soon. Work here is fun, well rewarded with a great work life balance, a far cry from the terribly low regard for which Mr Hunt and the Conservative party hold for not only junior doctors but all public sector workers. | I’m one of many British junior doctors working in Australia at the moment and this decision from the government today has put to bed any thoughts or a return home to work anytime soon. Work here is fun, well rewarded with a great work life balance, a far cry from the terribly low regard for which Mr Hunt and the Conservative party hold for not only junior doctors but all public sector workers. |
| Ian Mckellow, 29, Darwin | Ian Mckellow, 29, Darwin |
| Today is a sad day in British history. Some of the best and brightest young minds feel devalued and disenfranchised by the Secretary of State for Health. He will forever be remembered as the man who dismantled one of the greatest institutions in the world, the NHS. | Today is a sad day in British history. Some of the best and brightest young minds feel devalued and disenfranchised by the Secretary of State for Health. He will forever be remembered as the man who dismantled one of the greatest institutions in the world, the NHS. |
| Eva Chakraborti, 29, London | Eva Chakraborti, 29, London |
| I am saddened by your decision. I care about my patients and believe in free public healthcare, but I am forced to consider switching profession/leaving England to have a reasonable quality of life. I hope you have a plan to cope with losing so many doctors. | I am saddened by your decision. I care about my patients and believe in free public healthcare, but I am forced to consider switching profession/leaving England to have a reasonable quality of life. I hope you have a plan to cope with losing so many doctors. |
| anonymous, 30, Oxford | anonymous, 30, Oxford |
| I am Pan. I have spent years absorbing and carrying the tears of British families who hugged me even when I could not do anything more – only to become demoralised by your government. I am going home, to Greece. Your children will be the ultimate judge. | I am Pan. I have spent years absorbing and carrying the tears of British families who hugged me even when I could not do anything more – only to become demoralised by your government. I am going home, to Greece. Your children will be the ultimate judge. |
| Panagis Kyrtatos, 31, London | Panagis Kyrtatos, 31, London |
| You have been met with overwhelming opposition to this contract at every stage of its development. 98% of junior doctors said they were willing to strike because of it, an unprecedented majority. Why have you refused to listen to the concerns of the doctors who work in the very hospitals you are destroying? | You have been met with overwhelming opposition to this contract at every stage of its development. 98% of junior doctors said they were willing to strike because of it, an unprecedented majority. Why have you refused to listen to the concerns of the doctors who work in the very hospitals you are destroying? |
| Tony Watt, 25, Huddersfield | |
| You have so far done unimaginable harm to the public and our health service. However it is not too late. You could actually apologise and listen. Please do that, soon, and win back the respect of the country. | You have so far done unimaginable harm to the public and our health service. However it is not too late. You could actually apologise and listen. Please do that, soon, and win back the respect of the country. |
| Ben White, 33, London | Ben White, 33, London |
| On another 12-day stretch, living 200 miles from my husband I am overcome with uncertainty and sadness. Having spent four nights with my husband in the last month, the sacrifice no longer seems worth it. My place within the NHS is no longer compatible with the life that I choose. I choose life. | On another 12-day stretch, living 200 miles from my husband I am overcome with uncertainty and sadness. Having spent four nights with my husband in the last month, the sacrifice no longer seems worth it. My place within the NHS is no longer compatible with the life that I choose. I choose life. |
| Henrietta Creasy, 29, Leeds | Henrietta Creasy, 29, Leeds |
| Having worked 117 hours in the last nine days (including all weekend!), I have nothing but contempt for the way in which you have lied to the public about our working hours. Your contract removes vital safeguards that prevent trusts from overworking doctors. I will be unsafe for my patients under your contract. | Having worked 117 hours in the last nine days (including all weekend!), I have nothing but contempt for the way in which you have lied to the public about our working hours. Your contract removes vital safeguards that prevent trusts from overworking doctors. I will be unsafe for my patients under your contract. |
| anonymous, 30, England | anonymous, 30, England |
| Your imposition of an unfair and unsafe contract is a massive risk to patient safety, which you claim to want to protect. How can you justify your actions when 54,000 junior doctors think you’re wrong? | Your imposition of an unfair and unsafe contract is a massive risk to patient safety, which you claim to want to protect. How can you justify your actions when 54,000 junior doctors think you’re wrong? |
| Sarah, 23, West Yorkshire | Sarah, 23, West Yorkshire |